Cancer diagnosis raises risk of heart attack and suicide | Stronger Than Cancer
An interesting new study shows that a cancer diagnosis dramatically raises the risk of heart attack and suicide in the months that follow.
This should send a message to doctors, and fear-mongering organizations that want to sell you a 'cure' - many people survive cancer. More people survive cancer, than a car crash, but we're not afraid to drive.
Let's put the focus on targeting the cancer, healing the body, and bringing more balance to our lives.
Fear will shut down the immune system. Even in patients that don't have a heart attack, the panic of a diagnosis has its negative effects.
Are there ways of addressing this issue to improve the survival for all cancer patients?
Patients who are determine to survive, seem to survive against all odds. If more patients are offered encouragement, we would have better survival rates regardless of what their choice of treatment is.
Time to make a shift away from fear, and toward individual paths to healing for every patient.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Cancers Become Resistant To Chemotherapy
Why Cancers Become Resistant To Chemotherapy | Stronger Than Cancer
This just underscores the need for more targeted treatments, and more careful, strategic planning when it comes to treatment.
Some patients may not even need chemotherapy, and this puts them at greater risk for future mutations that may lead to cancer. And patients that do, will have better survival rates if targeted therapies can address this - better results, while reducing resistance.
Hopefully, this new data will be used for more thoughtful treatments - especially for borderline patient (ie. both ends of the spectrum, very early or late stage cancers).
This just underscores the need for more targeted treatments, and more careful, strategic planning when it comes to treatment.
Some patients may not even need chemotherapy, and this puts them at greater risk for future mutations that may lead to cancer. And patients that do, will have better survival rates if targeted therapies can address this - better results, while reducing resistance.
Hopefully, this new data will be used for more thoughtful treatments - especially for borderline patient (ie. both ends of the spectrum, very early or late stage cancers).
Caffeine Combined With Exercise Cuts Skin Cancer Risk
Caffeine Combined With Exercise May Cut Skin Cancer Risk | Stronger Than Cancer
I love to see research that shows effects like this.
It is hard for us to connect exercise with reducing cancer, but there are things that are happening in our body that isn't just strengthening our muscles, and heart - all of our metabolic systems are getting a workout, and that benefits the immune system.
We don't need to kill ourselves exercising. Mice in a lab are not forced to exercise more than they would naturally do - they are just given the equipment, and they naturally feel like running.
Whenever you feel sluggish - get up and move around - your body wants it, and it may be helping fight cancer.
I love to see research that shows effects like this.
It is hard for us to connect exercise with reducing cancer, but there are things that are happening in our body that isn't just strengthening our muscles, and heart - all of our metabolic systems are getting a workout, and that benefits the immune system.
We don't need to kill ourselves exercising. Mice in a lab are not forced to exercise more than they would naturally do - they are just given the equipment, and they naturally feel like running.
Whenever you feel sluggish - get up and move around - your body wants it, and it may be helping fight cancer.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Cancer-Causing Chemical Isolated in Smokeless Tobacco
Cancer-Causing Chemical Found in Smokeless Tobacco | Stronger Than Cancer
We've known for some time that even chewing tobacco can cause cancer.
Now they've isolated what the chemical is.
As a rule of thumb, all habit forming tobacco products should be avoided.
The best way to fight cancer is to be careful what you put into you body, in the mouth, in your lungs, in the food you eat. Cancer rates are going up. Everything else is just too risky!!
We've known for some time that even chewing tobacco can cause cancer.
Now they've isolated what the chemical is.
As a rule of thumb, all habit forming tobacco products should be avoided.
The best way to fight cancer is to be careful what you put into you body, in the mouth, in your lungs, in the food you eat. Cancer rates are going up. Everything else is just too risky!!
Screening tied to Overdiagnosis and Unnecessary Treatment
Breast cancer screening tied to Overdiagnosis | Stronger Than Cancer
I don't oppose cancer screenings, but we need better information about what to do with that information.
Right now, the word 'cancer' invokes too much fear, so if it is caught at any stage, even quite early or benign, the path is usually treat it aggressively so there is no chance that it will come back.
We are finding that this isn't the best approach. Some cancers have been seen to go away on their own. Others would never become malignant.
If treating cancer was non-toxic, this wouldn't be a problem, but the side effects of treatment lead to other issues, like heart disease and increase risk of leukemia etc. The decision to treat cancer can't be taken lightly.
In cancers that are discovered early, the patient needs better guidance about the best approach for her health. Wait and watch is not standard for breast cancer, but with better diagnostics, maybe it's an option we should explore.
I don't oppose cancer screenings, but we need better information about what to do with that information.
Right now, the word 'cancer' invokes too much fear, so if it is caught at any stage, even quite early or benign, the path is usually treat it aggressively so there is no chance that it will come back.
We are finding that this isn't the best approach. Some cancers have been seen to go away on their own. Others would never become malignant.
If treating cancer was non-toxic, this wouldn't be a problem, but the side effects of treatment lead to other issues, like heart disease and increase risk of leukemia etc. The decision to treat cancer can't be taken lightly.
In cancers that are discovered early, the patient needs better guidance about the best approach for her health. Wait and watch is not standard for breast cancer, but with better diagnostics, maybe it's an option we should explore.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Understanding Cancer Treatment Options
Understanding Chemotherapy: Choosing Your Cancer Weapons
Chemotherapy is, for some, scarier than the thought of cancer. While the cancer grew slowly in your body, and sometimes has no symptoms, we are all painfully aware of the side effects of chemotherapy: loss of color in the skin, hair loss, memory loss, fatigue, nausea...
Taking chemotherapy to fight cancer, is like asking your weakened body to fight two enemies at the same time. We are prepared to fight cancer, but our body is also fighting the chemotherapy - to the point where we want to reject it - we don't want it, and we fight with ourselves just to get in for our treatment.
That's not the feeling we want to have for something that is there to 'cure' us. It's a far cry from the idea of healing, nurturing, restoring our health.
So, although chemotherapy has become a standard treatment for cancer, it is not a decision to be taken lightly. Like everything else, it is ONE weapon against cancer.
As you prepare for battle, choose your weapons wisely. If you feel that your treatment will do more harm than good, then meet with as many doctors as you can to get a number of opinions.
As of now, our cancer treatment is still our choice. It's a difficult battle - educate yourself - know your options - make sure you are fighting in the way that works best for YOU.
Chemotherapy is, for some, scarier than the thought of cancer. While the cancer grew slowly in your body, and sometimes has no symptoms, we are all painfully aware of the side effects of chemotherapy: loss of color in the skin, hair loss, memory loss, fatigue, nausea...
Taking chemotherapy to fight cancer, is like asking your weakened body to fight two enemies at the same time. We are prepared to fight cancer, but our body is also fighting the chemotherapy - to the point where we want to reject it - we don't want it, and we fight with ourselves just to get in for our treatment.
That's not the feeling we want to have for something that is there to 'cure' us. It's a far cry from the idea of healing, nurturing, restoring our health.
So, although chemotherapy has become a standard treatment for cancer, it is not a decision to be taken lightly. Like everything else, it is ONE weapon against cancer.
As you prepare for battle, choose your weapons wisely. If you feel that your treatment will do more harm than good, then meet with as many doctors as you can to get a number of opinions.
As of now, our cancer treatment is still our choice. It's a difficult battle - educate yourself - know your options - make sure you are fighting in the way that works best for YOU.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Vitality in a Blender
I have not done any of the Green Smoothie retreats, but after recovering from aggressive cancer treatments, I was inspired by the book Green for Life
- a year after radiation I was still overwhelmed with fatigue, and green smoothies were the ONLY thing that brought my energy back. Now I feel younger than I did years before the cancer hit.
But in an article about green smoothies and diabetes: About Diabetes and the Power of Observation - the issue of 'taste' comes up - how taste evolves after drinking green smoothies (ie. tasting natural sugars) - something I observed in myself, although I always liked the taste of the green smoothies, was that I began to taste more of the other foods I ate.
This made staying with a healthy diet easy, because my taste buds were so sensitive, it helped in two ways: 1) the subtle differences in fruits, veggies, nuts, rice all were wonderful to me - such delightful tastes in nature - who needs a candy bar? and 2) junk food tasted like greasy petroleum - it tastes really gross to me now.
There is something in the green smoothie - maybe many things happening. As you cleanse your body, it just works better. As your body gets the nutrients it needs, you can trust your cravings.
But something about the green smoothies is vital to health, in ways I never got before, regardless of how careful I was about my diet.
They are so easy to prepare. It's a great way to make sure you get your raw fruits and veggies in your diet. If you haven't tried green smoothies yet, do it.
It's better than any nutrition pill or energy drink.
- a year after radiation I was still overwhelmed with fatigue, and green smoothies were the ONLY thing that brought my energy back. Now I feel younger than I did years before the cancer hit.
But in an article about green smoothies and diabetes: About Diabetes and the Power of Observation - the issue of 'taste' comes up - how taste evolves after drinking green smoothies (ie. tasting natural sugars) - something I observed in myself, although I always liked the taste of the green smoothies, was that I began to taste more of the other foods I ate.
This made staying with a healthy diet easy, because my taste buds were so sensitive, it helped in two ways: 1) the subtle differences in fruits, veggies, nuts, rice all were wonderful to me - such delightful tastes in nature - who needs a candy bar? and 2) junk food tasted like greasy petroleum - it tastes really gross to me now.
There is something in the green smoothie - maybe many things happening. As you cleanse your body, it just works better. As your body gets the nutrients it needs, you can trust your cravings.
But something about the green smoothies is vital to health, in ways I never got before, regardless of how careful I was about my diet.
They are so easy to prepare. It's a great way to make sure you get your raw fruits and veggies in your diet. If you haven't tried green smoothies yet, do it.
It's better than any nutrition pill or energy drink.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)